Support Groups

Description:The AYA Program provides personalized, supportive care to Princess Margaret Hospital patients aged 39 and younger. The goals of the AYA Program are to identify your individual needs, provide supportive counseling, and link you to other community and hospital services and resources.

Description:b.r.a.i.n.child is a group of parents, family and friends who have the common experience of caring for a child with a brain tumour or who are survivors themselves. They are a volunteer organization providing support, education and research funding.

Description:Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto is a volunteer based bereavement support organization that provides programs and services based on a mutual support model to individuals, families, groups and communities throughout the city of Toronto.

Eligibility:Parents, siblings, other family members, clinical professionals, clergy, teachers, friends, colleagues, etc. who have an interest in educational programs for either personal use or for professional use. Interest in programs determines access.

Description:Best Buddies gives people with intellectual disabilities the chance to have experiences which most people take for granted  going for coffee, out to a movie, or simply enjoying the company of a good friend. At each chapter, students are matched with people with intellectual disabilities who share similar interests. The Buddy Pairs call each other weekly and get together approximately twice a month. Buddy Pairs at each chapter hold a group activity four times a year.

Description:Brockville and District Hospice Palliative Care Service promotes quality of life for people living with a life-limiting illness. The team offers assessments, counseling, pain and symptom management, comfort measures, companionship, respite and transportation. A Community Day Hospice Program offered weekly provides social interaction, therapies, activities and nursing consultations for patients. Bereavement support is provided through support groups, or individual counseling for those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Description:The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. The Cancer Information Service dedicates its staff and resources to providing the most accurate, current and accessible source of cancer information (general information, support groups, websites etc.), by telephone, in Ontario.

Description:CCC is entirely focused on helping children with cancer and their families through strategic, lifesaving Canadian childhood cancer research, support programs and sponsorships. Sponsorships include: Childhood Cancer Canada Survivor Scholarship $1,500:A one-time award for students in any university, college, or vocational training program. Students may be in any year of their studies provided that they are enrolled in school for the fall term that the scholarships are awarded in.TEVA Canada Scholarship $5,000 :A one-time award that will be granted to a maximum of 10 students entering (or already enrolled in) pharmacy, medicine, or health sciences post-graduate programs of study. Students may be in any year of their studies provided that they are enrolled in school for the fall term that the scholarships are awarded in.

Description:Dr. Jay Chidren's Grief Centre supports families when there is a terminal diagnosis of an adult or child; when the grieving process begins, through the dying process and into bereavement support. Families can enter their programs at any point within the grief continuum.

Description:ELLICSR is designed as a collaborative space for research into health, wellness and cancer survivorship. Cancer survivors, including family members, friends and caregivers, can:- Find information on health and wellness.- Participate in a class or program, designed through research with survivor input.- Meet other survivors and share experiences, support each other and learn together.

Description:Epilepsy Toronto is the place where Torontonians living with epilepsy can learn more about their condition, get the help they need and be a part of a family of caring and supporting people.

Description:ErinoakKids provides a comprehensive range of family-centred treatment, rehabilitation and support services to children with disabilities and their families who reside in Dufferin, Halton, Peel, Waterloo and Wellington - the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) Central West Region of Ontario. The Ontario government funds the mandatory services offered at ErinoakKids through its Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Description:Gildas Club Greater Toronto is a place where children, teens, women and men whose lives have been touched by cancer, as well as their families and friends, can feel they are part of a welcoming community of support. Gildas Club Greater Toronto has a diverse calendar of programming for anyone living with cancer along with their support network.

Description:Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre is committed to providing community support for people diagnosed with cancer and their families through individual and group support, information, a resource centre, wellness programs and an ongoing lecture and discussion series. Hearth Place is a support centre where cancer patients and their families can come and share their experiences, find resources and discover new ways to care for themselves and each other.

Description:Lymphoma Foundation Canada connects patients, their family and friends, medical professionals, researchers, volunteers, and donors to build a strong lymphoma community: A community that conducts research to learn lymphoma's causes, to develop better treatments, and to find a cure. A community that helps people talk about and cope with the fifth most common cancer in Canada. A community that invites you to get and give support.

Eligibility:Individuals and families facing a terminal illness with a prognosis of one year or less, and reside in the Sudbury/Manitoulin area. Please visit website for specific admission criteria.

Referral:Some programs require a referral or application process. Referrals are accepted from physicians, nurses and other health care providers. For "Visiting Hospice Services", caregivers, family members and friends are also encouraged to make a referral.

Description:Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) is a registered charitable organization based in Sudbury and is committed to helping families across Northern Ontario who have a child diagnosed with cancer. Through financial support programs, bursaries, educational supports and a variety of other programs designed to reduce costs associated with travelling, they provide assistance to families and cancer survivors.

Eligibility:For the Financial Assistance Program, a daily per diem is available to those who need assistance to offset the costs of travelling for treatment. Families are eligible for these funds for days spent away from home, which is defined by +100kms from the place of residence.

Description:The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) is a provincial not-for-profit, charitable organization that aims to enhance the lives of Ontarians living with the effects of acquired brain injury (ABI) through education, awareness and support.

Description:OPACC is a registered charity whose overall goal is to be the parent voice for families with children diagnosed with cancer across Ontario. OPACC Educates, Advocates, Supports and Enables (E.A.S.E.s) families of children with cancer. OPACC offers support through parent liaisons who can help families affected by childhood cancer from a non-medical point of view and can guide them through the myriad of services and opportunities that exist for families both in and out of the hospital. OPACC also offers weekly drop-in support groups, one-on-one visits to families, distribution of free support materials, and more.

Description:POGO Pediatric Interlink Community Cancer Nurses extend the care of the child and family with cancer from hospital into the home. They assist in the preparation for the demands of treatment and arrange support and services as required throughout the course of illness.

Description:Rebounders Canada is a registered Canadian charity that offers support and social opportunities to adults who are living with the long-term effects of childhood cancer. By bringing survivors together through regular social gatherings, their members can connect with one another and find encouragement and friendships not found elsewhere.

Eligibility:Eligibility criteria includes: referral to CHEO Pediatric Palliative Care Outreach team, children/youth up to their 19th birthday, Ontario resident with valid OHIP coverage, child/youth has life-limiting illness with progressive decline in health status, family and child/youth must be willing to confront the challenging issues around a child's/youth's illness and death with the help of the interdisciplinary team.

Referral:Yes, must be referred by a physician.

Staffing:Personal Support Workers, Registered Nurses, Palliative Care Program Physicians, Social Worker, Recreation Therapist and various volunteers.

Description:Thames Valley Children's Centre (TVCC) works to help children and their families achieve the highest possible quality of life. TVCC focuses on the development of physical, social, emotional, communication, behavioural and life skills, and provides information, education and support to children, youth, families and the community to promote inclusive opportunities and relationships. TVCC offers a wide range of services for children and youth such as Occupational Therapy, Acute Pediatric Rehabilitation Services, Recreation Therapy and much more.

Description:The Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children provides support groups for children, teens, and their families following a death in the immediate family. They want to provide a safe place where grieving children, teens and families can share their experience and support each other as they move through their grief process.

Eligibility:Any child or youth, between the ages 3 to 18, who has experienced the death of an immediate family member or close friend can join a group. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend the adult peer support groups that meet at the same time as the childrens groups.

Description:The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundations Maplesoft Centre provides Cancer Coaching programs and services to people who have been directly impacted by cancer, from the day of diagnosis, through treatment and for the rest of their lives. A variety of service providers, staff, students and volunteers working at the Centre offer holistic, personalized, person-centered Cancer Coaching and are committed to providing services of the highest quality.

Description:Services for child and adult amputees. The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program provides services for child amputees under the age 18 and their families, including financial assistance for artificial limbs, regional seminars and peer support.

Description:Thyroid Cancer Canada is a national organization of thyroid cancer survivors dedicated to providing emotional support and information to those affected by the disease through various programs and services. Contact the organization with questions about thyroid cancer by phone or email, and connect with other patients through their Online Forum.

Description:VON is Canadas only, national, not-for-profit, charitable home and community care organization that provides more than 75 home care, personal support, and community services for people of all ages including nursing, homemaking, family education services and respite/caregiver relief.

Description:Wellspring is a network of community-based support centres offering programs and services that meet the emotional, social, practical and restorative needs of people living with cancer and their caregivers. Wellspring programs are offered free of charge, and include one-to-one peer support, group support activities, learned coping skills, rehabilitation programs and much more. Wellspring centres has several locations in Ontario. Visit www.wellspring.ca to learn more about the location nearest to you.

Description:LDS aims to provide confidential support for students identified with learning disabilities in order to facilitate their academic, personal and career goals. They provide 1:1 academic support by setting up reasonable academic accommodations for students based on the nature of their disability, their documentation, and the academic integrity of their courses.

Eligibility:Students with diagnosed learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder (ADD) or autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) who are registered at York University.

Referral:Self-referral is acceptable with the provision of appropriate documentation of disabilities.

Fee:No fee for most services other than regular tuition fees for York University. Costs for some services may be incurred (e.g. individualized tutoring, psychoeducational assessments). Students who are eligible for OSAP may access BSWD.

Application:Apply to York through OUAC. Upon admission, complete the Disability Services Student Questionnaire, and an appointment will be set up.

Description:Young Adult Cancer Canada is a national organization wholly focused on providing customized support programs to help young adults with cancer deal with their cancer experience. Programs available in Ontario include "Localife" and "The Big Cancer Hook-Up!".

Description:Youth Link is a youth mental health agency in Scarborough dedicated to providing the support, guidance and opportunities youth need to make positive life choices. Youth Link provides a wide range of services such as counselling, educational support, family support and residential services for youth aged 12-21 and their families.

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